Lightweight ball glove

ABSTRACT

The lightweight ball glove includes a back side, a front side and a shock cord tension system therebetween. The outer edge of the front side is fixedly coupled with the outer edge of the back side to form a lightweight glove. A web portion is fixedly coupled between a thumb and a pointer finger of the lightweight glove, the web portion having a bridge at the top. Cordage is used for lacing together a top portion of each finger with an adjacent finger and the bridge to form the lightweight ball glove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a Continuation application of, andclaims priority to, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/269,039, filed on Sep. 19, 2016, entitled “Lightweight Ball Glove” byBrian Dueck et al., with Attorney Docket No. BUCK-001, assigned to theassignee of the present application, which is incorporated in itsentirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples described herein relate to a lightweight ball glove often usedfor catching an object.

BACKGROUND

Ball gloves or mitts are used in numerous sports from kids' backyardpick-up games to adult's professional athletic events. However, it takesan amount of preparation and pre-planning to have a mitt available at anevent. The planning often includes the mitt being mentioned in theinvite, a bag to transport the mitt to and from the event, etc. As such,when a spur of the moment event occurs, people often will attempt to usenumerous different at hand objects to act as a mitt. Such objects caninclude a hat, a shoe, a bare hand, a drinking cup, a paper food tray,an oven mitt, and the like. In many cases, the at-hand object is not avery practical or even a semi-useful substitute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together withthe Description of Embodiments, serve to explain principles discussedbelow. The drawings referred to in this brief description should not beunderstood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted.

FIGS. 1A-1D are perspective views of a lightweight ball glove shown fromeach of a back view, a thumb view, a palm view, and a pinky side viewrespectively, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the lightweight ball glove and itscomponents, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3A is an illustration of the shock cord tension system, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the layers within the lightweight ballglove, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for folding the lightweight ballglove, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A-5D are a plurality of diagrams illustrating the folding stepsof the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the subjectmatter, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.While the subject matter discussed herein will be described inconjunction with various embodiments, it will be understood that theyare not intended to limit the subject matter to these embodiments. Onthe contrary, the presented embodiments are intended to coveralternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the various embodiments as defined by theappended claims. Furthermore, in the Description, numerous specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofembodiments of the present subject matter. However, embodiments may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well knownmethods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described indetail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the describedembodiments.

Overview

When kids get together they often like to play games. Many times thegames include some type of hitting and/or catching, such as whiffleball, stick ball, snowball fights, and the like. One of the main aspectsof a pick-up style ball game, or even a training practice, is the use ofballs that are much lighter weight than a regulation baseball. Forexample, a major league baseball weighs about 5 ounces. In contrast aperforated, light-weight, resilient plastic ball, e.g., a whiffle ball,may be approximately the same size as a major league baseball but weighin at approximately 20 grams.

Thus, the use of the plastic ball (or other light weight ball, rock,snowball, dirt clod, shuttle cock, or the like) can allow a game orpractice to occur on much smaller fields and often without the safetygear that is necessary for an actual baseball game, e.g., battinghelmet, catcher's gear, etc. Moreover, it is often helpful to train withthe lightweight balls during batting practice. The reduced flight rangeand ballistics allow the batting practice to be performed at anincreased cadence, in a smaller area, and with a significantly reducedneed for safety gear as well as a significant reduction in the chance ofan impact injury occurring.

However, because of the significant weight difference between the actualbaseball gear and the lightweight ball, it is often difficult if notimpossible to use baseball gear when playing with a lightweight ball.For example, an actual baseball bat will significantly damage alightweight ball. Similarly, catching a lightweight ball in a baseballglove is very difficult. More often than not, the lightweight ball willsimply bounce off or out of the baseball glove. That is, because thebaseball glove is designed to catch a ball that is 7-8 times heavierthan the lightweight ball. As such, the impact of the lightweight ballon the baseball glove is not enough to evoke the proper operationalcharacteristics of the glove. In other words, there is almost no “feel”when a lightweight ball hits a real baseball glove.

In the following discussion, a number of different views of the partsand components are shown. Although a number of parts and components arediscussed herein, it should be appreciated that different embodimentsmay include different parts, equivalent parts, replacement parts,different parts groupings, a combination of parts into a single part,dissemination of a single part into a plurality of parts, and the like.Moreover, although illustrative embodiments have been described indetail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, variations tospecific embodiments and details are encompassed by this disclosure. Itis intended that the scope of embodiments described herein be defined byclaims and their equivalents.

Operation

With reference now to FIGS. 1A-1D, a lightweight ball glove 100 is shownfrom each of a back view 110, a thumb view 125, a palm view 130, and apinky side view 140 respectively, in accordance with an embodiment. Ingeneral, FIGS. 1A-1D are provided to show the ready to use lightweightball glove 100 to provide clarity prior to the broken down, layered andexploded views provided in FIGS. 2-3 and 5. For purposes of thediscussion, lightweight ball glove is lightweight in comparison to anormal baseball glove, e.g., a leather baseball glove, or the like. Thatis, the lightweight glove is a light duty type of glove with respect toa regular baseball glove. for example, the lightweight glove is lighterin weight and construction with respect to a regular baseball glove in asimilar manner that a plastic ball is lighter in weight and constructionthan a normal baseball.

With reference now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of lightweight ball glove100 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In general, lightweightball glove 100 consists of a back portion 205, a palm portion 210, a webportion 215, and a cordage 275. For structure, in one embodiment,lightweight ball glove 100 will include pipe seaming 293 between backportion 205 and palm portion 210 to add structure through the fingerstalls. In one embodiment, as pointed out throughout the followingdiscussion, the materials used to manufacture the lightweight ball glovemay mimic the materials and look found on a baseball hat, trucker hat,or the like.

In one embodiment, lightweight ball glove 100 also includes a logo area291 upon which a logo may be affixed. For example, the logo may be afavorite team's logo, a friend group personalized logo, and the like.The logo in logo area 291 may be user selectable, defined at time ofmanufacture, dependent upon the market within which the glove is beingsold, or the like. In one embodiment, the logo may be stitched, glued,silk screened or the like onto logo area 291. In another embodiment,logo area 291 may be a hook and pile tape area such that different logodevices may be affixed via the hook and pile tape connection to allow auser to change out, or switch between, logos as desired. Moreover,although a logo area 291 is shown, due to the materials utilized, theremay be numerous logos, colors, images, quotes, sayings, or the likeprinted on different areas of the glove or the entire glove, in asimilar manner such as how they can be placed on a baseball hat.

Referring now to FIG. 3A an exploded view of the layers withinlightweight ball glove 100 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. Ingeneral, back portion 205 includes a plurality of lightweight layers. Inone embodiment, the plurality of lightweight layers includes an innerlining layer 315, an outer surface layer 305, and a soft open-cell foamlayer 310 sandwiched between inner lining layer 315 and outer surfacelayer 305. In one embodiment, soft open-cell foam layer 310 isapproximately 8 millimeters thick. In one embodiment, inner lining layer315 and outer surface layer 305 are made from an elastic synthetic fiberlining layer material having elasticity. Examples of such a syntheticfiber material include Spandex, LYCRA™, Elastane, and the like. Forexample, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design thatmimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes open-cell foam layer 310that mimics, looks similar to, or is made from the same foam material asthat found on a baseball hat. Similarly, in one embodiment, inner lininglayer 315 and/or outer surface layer 305 may also mimic, looks similarto, or be made from the same material as that found about the foam on abaseball hat.

With reference now to FIG. 3B, an illustration of the shock cord tensionsystem 350 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In one embodiment,back portion 205 also includes shock cord tension system 350 located ona back surface of the soft open-cell foam layer 310 sandwiched betweeninner lining layer 315 and outer surface layer 305 (as shown in FIG.3A). In general, shock cord tension system 350 includes a plurality ofloops 355 a-d located about a finger area of lightweight ball glove 100.For example, the plurality of loops 355 a-d may include one or more of aloop 355 d located on an outside portion of a pointer finger-palm jointwithin the lightweight ball glove, and one or more loops 355 a-c locatedat one or more finger webbing portions within lightweight ball glove100.

Shock cord tension system 350 also includes an opening 318 on an outsideportion of a pinky-palm joint. A cord 358 is routed into opening 318,through the plurality of loops 355 a-d and back out opening 318. Acordlock 357 is used on cord 358 outside of opening 318 to provide anadjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on cord 358. In oneembodiment, cord 358 is an elastic cord. However, in another embodiment,cord 358 may be a non-elastic material.

In general, when the user's hand 333 is put in lightweight ball glove100, it rests between the back portion 205 and palm portion 210. Shockcord tension system 350 is used to allow different hand sizes to fitwithin lightweight ball glove 100. For example, after hand 333 isinserted into lightweight ball glove 100, a user can grasp cord 358 andpull it to tighten the fit of lightweight ball glove 100. Whenlightweight ball glove 100 is properly tightened, cordlock 357 is thenused to keep the tension on cord 358 such that it does not come loose.When it is time to remove lightweight ball glove 100, the user cansimply release cordlock 357 at which time cord 358 will loosen and shockcord tension system 350 will no longer be providing tension betweenlightweight ball glove 100 and the user's hand 333.

In one embodiment, shock cord tension system 350 also includes one ormore loops 375 a-b located about a web portion side of thumb side 379within lightweight ball glove 100. In addition, a second opening 381 isformed on an outside portion of the thumb area. A second cord 378 isrouted into second opening 381, through one or more loops 375 a-b andback out of second opening 381. A second cordlock 377 is used on cord378 outside of second opening 381 to provide a second adjustable lockingmechanism for holding tension on second cord 378.

In general, when the user's hand is put in lightweight ball glove 100,it rests between the back portion 205 and the front portion 210 as shownin FIG. 3A. The second shock cord tension system is used to allowdifferent hand sizes to fit within lightweight ball glove 100. Forexample, after hand 333 is inserted into lightweight ball glove 100, auser can grasp the second cord 378 and pull it to tighten the fit oflightweight ball glove 100 around the user's thumb. When lightweightball glove 100 is properly tightened, second cordlock 377 is then usedto keep the tension on second cord 378 such that it does not come loose.When it is time to remove lightweight ball glove 100, the user cansimply release second cordlock 377 at which time second cord 378 willloosen and shock cord tension system 350 will no longer be providingtension between lightweight ball glove 100 and the user's thumb.

With reference again to FIG. 2, back portion 205 also includes anadjustable opening 255. In one embodiment, adjustable opening 255consists of a wrist strap that includes a button portion 260 and atongue portion 265. In general, the wrist strap is designed to onceagain mimic the sizing strap on an adjustable baseball cap.

For example, in one embodiment the wrist strap components are hardplastic. In general, on the wrist strap, button portion 260 of asnapback size adjustment system is provided on a first side of opening255. Moreover, tongue portion 265 of the snapback size adjustment systemis provided on a second side of opening 255. Similar to a hat design,tongue portion 265 has a plurality of holes therein which can beremovably coupled with a plurality of buttons located on button portion260 to provide a size adjustment capability to opening 255.

With reference still to FIG. 2 and also to FIG. 3A, palm portion 210 isalso formed of the same plurality of lightweight layers as back portion205. E.g., inner lining layer 315, soft open-cell foam layer 310, andouter surface layer 305. In one embodiment, the outer edge of palmportion 210 is fixedly coupled with an outer edge of back portion 205 toform lightweight ball glove 100. In one embodiment, the outer edge ofpalm portion 210 is stitched to the outer edge of back portion 205 toform lightweight ball glove 100. In another embodiment, the outer edgeof palm portion 210 is glued to the outer edge of back portion 205 toform lightweight ball glove 100. In yet another embodiment, the outeredge of palm portion 210 is both glued and stitched to the outer edge ofback portion 205 to form lightweight ball glove 100.

With reference still to FIG. 2, a web portion 215 is fixedly coupledbetween thumb side 379 and a pointer finger 285 of lightweight ballglove 100. In one embodiment, web portion 215 is stitched to thumb side379 and pointer finger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100. In anotherembodiment, web portion 215 is glued to thumb side 379 and pointerfinger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100. In yet another embodiment, webportion 215 is both glued and stitched to thumb side 379 and pointerfinger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100.

In one embodiment, web portion 215 includes a monofilament mesh 218. Forexample, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design thatmimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes monofilament mesh 218that mimics, looks similar to, or is made from the same mesh as thatfound on a baseball hat. In addition, a surrounding frame 217 consistingof the plurality of lightweight layers is fixedly coupled with a sideand bottom portion of monofilament mesh 218. In one embodiment, a bridge216 is fixedly coupled with a top of monofilament mesh 218.

With reference still to FIG. 2, in one embodiment cordage 275 is used tolace together a top portion of each finger of lightweight ball glove 100with an adjacent finger and bridge 216 to form lightweight ball glove100. In one embodiment, cordage 275 is a lightweight material. In oneembodiment, the cordage 275 is an elastic material.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart 400 of a method for foldinglightweight ball glove 100 is shown in accordance with an embodiment.FIGS. 5A-5D are diagrams illustrating the folding steps of lightweightball glove 100 in accordance with an embodiment. In general, whenlightweight ball glove 100 is folded as described herein, it will beabout a quarter of its normal length and height. In so doing,lightweight ball glove 100 will be of an appropriate size to fit into anormal sized pocket, such as a front jeans pocket, a jacket pocket orthe like. Thus, making lightweight ball glove 100 easy to transport, andconvenient for taking to the park, on outings, or the like.

With reference now to 410 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, one embodiment providesa cord loop 231 on one of a pinky finger side or a thumb side oflightweight ball glove 100.

Referring now to 420 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, one embodiment provides acord loop retainer 232 on the other one of the pinky finger side or thethumb side of lightweight ball glove 100. For example, in followingalong with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat;one embodiment utilizes a hat top cap button as cord loop retainer 232.In other words, the same type of button design as usually found on thetop center of a baseball hat is provided on lightweight ball glove 100as the button around which cord loop 231 can be looped.

With reference now to 430 of FIG. 4 and diagram 500 of FIG. 5A, oneembodiment provides a first folding axis 510 for the lightweight ballglove, first folding axis 510 causing a fold from a fingertip portion506 of the lightweight ball glove to a palm heel portion 508 of thelightweight ball glove, wherein utilizing first folding axis 510 causeslightweight ball glove 100 to be folded approximately in half.

Referring now to 440 of FIG. 4 and diagram 520 of FIG. 5B, oneembodiment provides a second folding axis 525 for the lightweight ballglove, second folding axis 525 causing a fold from the thumb side 379 ofthe lightweight ball glove to the pinky finger side 376 of thelightweight ball glove, second folding axis 525 to be utilized after thefirst fold has been performed utilizing first folding axis 510, whereinutilizing the second folding axis 525 causes the lightweight ball gloveto be folded approximately into a quarter folded state as shown indiagrams 530 and 540 of FIG. 5C.

With reference now to 450 of FIG. 4 and diagram 550 FIG. 5D, oneembodiment couples cord loop 231 with cord loop retainer 232 to retainthe lightweight ball glove in the quarter folded state. Althoughlightweight ball glove 100 is well suited to only a single cord loop 231and cord loop retainer 232; in one embodiment a second cord loop 231 isprovided on the other one of pinky finger side 376 or the thumb side 379of the lightweight ball glove opposite of the originally discussed cordloop 231. Moreover, a second cord loop retainer 232 may be provided onthe other one of pinky finger side 376 or thumb side 379 of thelightweight ball glove opposite of the originally discussed cord loopretainer 232. In so doing, a user may use one or both of the cord loopsand cord loop retainers to keep the lightweight ball glove in thequarter folded state.

Because of the characteristics of the lightweight ball glove discussedherein, kids and adults alike will be able to utilize the lightweightball glove when they get together to play games that include some typeof hitting and/or catching, such as whiffle ball, stick ball, snowballfights, and the like, without having to bring heavier and more expensive“real” baseball gloves. Moreover, because of its portability, stowability, and lightweight characteristics, it will be easier to transportthe lightweight ball glove in a pocket or keep one or more in a vehicle,a sports bag, or the like. As such, the lightweight ball glove will bereadily available for a pick-up style ball game, or even a trainingpractice that uses balls that are much lighter in weight than theregulation baseball.

Moreover, when there is a game intending the use of a plastic ball(tennis ball, rubber ball, or other light weight ball, rock, snowball,dirt clod, shuttle cock, or the like) the lightweight ball glove can beutilized to increase catchability. In addition, the use of lightweightball gloves can allow a game or practice to occur on much smaller fieldsand often without the safety gear necessary for an actual baseball game,e.g., batting helmet, catcher's gear, etc.

Moreover, because of the similar weight characteristics between thelightweight ball glove and the lightweight ball, catching a lightweightball in the lightweight ball glove is very similar to catching a regularbaseball in a regular glove. That is, instead of the lightweight ballbouncing off or out of the lightweight ball glove, the impact of thelightweight ball on the lightweight ball glove will be enough to evokethe proper operational characteristics of the glove. In other words,there will be good “feel” when a lightweight ball hits the lightweightball glove.

The foregoing Description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limitthe embodiments to the precise form described. Instead, exampleembodiments in this Description have been presented in order to enablepersons of skill in the art to make and use embodiments of the describedsubject matter. Moreover, various embodiments have been described invarious combinations. However, any two or more embodiments may becombined. Although some embodiments have been described in a languagespecific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed byway of illustration and as example forms of implementing the claims andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lightweight glove comprising: a front side; aback side, wherein an outer edge of the back side is fixedly coupledwith an outer edge of the front side to form a glove, the glovecomprising: an opening to receive a user's hand; a plurality of fingerwells to receive one or more of a plurality of fingers of the user'shand; and a thumb well to receive a thumb of the user's hand, each ofthe plurality of finger wells and the thumb well comprising an openingand a channel; and a shock cord tension system, the shock cord tensionsystem comprising: a first loop located on a thumb side of the openingof a pointer finger well of said plurality of finger wells within saidglove; at least one additional loop located at a junction of at leasttwo openings of the plurality of finger wells within said glove; anopening on an outside portion of a pinky side of said glove; a cordrouted into said opening, through said first loop and said at least oneadditional loop, and back out of said opening; and a cordlock about saidcord outside of said opening to provide an adjustable locking mechanismfor holding tension on said cord.
 2. The lightweight glove of claim 1wherein said cord is elastic.
 3. The lightweight glove of claim 1further comprising: a plurality of additional loops, such that there areloops located at each junction of each opening of each of the pluralityof finger wells within said glove; and the cord is routed into saidopening, through each loop, and back out of said opening.
 4. Thelightweight glove of claim 1 further comprising: a second shock cordtension system, the second shock cord tension system comprising: asecond set of one or more loops located on a pointer finger side of theopening of said thumb well within said glove; a second opening locatedon an outside portion of said thumb side of said lightweight glove; asecond cord routed into said second opening, through said second set ofone or more loops and back out said second opening; and a secondcordlock about said second cord outside of said second opening toprovide a second adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension onsaid second cord.
 5. The lightweight glove of claim 1 furthercomprising: a web portion, said web portion fixedly coupled between anexterior of the thumb well and an exterior of the pointer finger wellportions of said glove, said web portion comprising: a mesh ofmonofilament yarns; a surrounding frame fixedly coupled with a side andbottom portion of said mesh; and a bridge fixedly coupled with a top ofsaid mesh.
 6. The lightweight glove of claim 5 further comprising: acordage for lacing together a top portion of each adjacent finger wellof said plurality of finger wells, said bridge, and a top portion ofsaid thumb well.
 7. The lightweight glove of claim 1 wherein said frontside comprises: an inner lining layer; an outer lining layer; and anopen-cell foam layer sandwiched between said inner lining layer and saidouter lining layer.
 8. The lightweight glove of claim 1 wherein anoverall thickness of said glove is approximately 8 millimeters.
 9. Thelightweight glove of claim 1 wherein an overall thickness of said gloveis less than approximately 16 millimeters.
 10. A ball glove comprising:a first folding axis, the first folding axis comprising a vertical foldfrom a fingertip portion of said ball glove to a palm heel portion ofsaid ball glove, wherein said first folding axis causes the ball gloveto be folded approximately in half; a second folding axis, the secondfolding axis comprising a horizontal fold from a thumb side of said ballglove to a pinky finger side of said ball glove, wherein said secondfolding axis causes the ball glove to be folded approximately in half, acombination fold, the combination fold comprising both the vertical foldabout the first folding axis and the horizontal fold about the secondfolding axis, wherein combination fold causes the ball glove to befolded approximately into a quarter folded state; a cord loop on one ofthe pinky finger side or the thumb side of the ball glove; and a cordloop retainer on the other one of said pinky finger side or said thumbside of said ball glove, wherein when the cord loop is coupled with thecord loop retainer the ball glove is retained in the quarter foldedstate.
 11. The ball glove of claim 10 wherein a size of the ball glovein the quarter folded state will fit into a jacket pocket.
 12. The ballglove of claim 10 wherein a size of the ball glove in the quarter foldedstate will fit into a pocket in a pair of pants.
 13. The ball glove ofclaim 10 wherein a size of the ball glove in the quarter folded statewill fit into a pocket in a pair of shorts.
 14. The ball glove of claim10 wherein the cord loop retainer is a hat top cap button.
 15. The ballglove of claim 10 further comprising: a second cord loop on the otherone of the pinky finger side or the thumb side of said ball gloveopposite of said cord loop; and a second cord loop retainer on the otherone of said pinky finger side or said thumb side of said ball gloveopposite of said cord loop retainer, wherein when the second cord loopis coupled with the second cord loop retainer the ball glove is retainedin the quarter folded state.
 16. A lightweight glove comprising: a frontside; a back side, wherein an outer edge of the back side is fixedlycoupled with an outer edge of the front side to form a glove, the glovecomprising: an opening to receive a user's hand; a plurality of fingerwells, each of the plurality of finger wells having an opening and anenclosed channel to receive one or more of a plurality of fingers of theuser's hand; and a thumb well, the thumb well having an opening and anenclosed channel to receive a thumb of the user's hand; and anadjustable wrist strap about said opening to receive the user's hand,said adjustable wrist strap comprising: a button portion of a snapbacksize adjustment system on a first side of said opening; and a tongueportion of the snapback size adjustment system on a second side of saidopening, said tongue portion having a plurality of holes therein forremovably coupling with said button portion to provide a size adjustmentcapability to said opening.
 17. The lightweight glove of claim 16further comprising: a shock cord tension system, the shock cord tensionsystem comprising: a first loop located on a thumb side of the openingof a pointer finger well of said plurality of finger wells within saidglove; at least one additional loop located at a junction of at leasttwo openings of the plurality of finger wells within said glove; anopening on an outside portion of a pinky side of said glove; a cordrouted into said opening, through said first loop and said at least oneadditional loop, and back out of said opening; and a cordlock about saidcord outside of said opening to provide an adjustable locking mechanismfor holding tension on said cord.
 18. The lightweight glove of claim 16further comprising: a web portion, said web portion fixedly coupledbetween an exterior of the thumb well and an exterior of the pointerfinger well portions of said glove, said web portion comprising: a meshof monofilament yarns; a surrounding frame fixedly coupled with a sideand bottom portion of said mesh; a bridge fixedly coupled with a top ofsaid mesh; and a cordage for lacing together a top portion of eachadjacent finger well of said plurality of finger wells, said bridge, anda top portion of said thumb well.
 19. The lightweight glove of claim 16wherein said front side comprises: an inner lining layer; an outerlining layer; and an open-cell foam layer sandwiched between said innerlining layer and said outer lining layer.
 20. The lightweight glove ofclaim 16 wherein an overall thickness of said glove is approximately 8millimeters.